Sammy Rae & The Friends by Shervin Lainez

Very few bands can blend and defy genre in a way that combines the listenability of a pop hit with the complex chord progressions of a jazz tune. Even fewer have live dueling saxophones on stage at their shows, or the amount of energy and stage presence that it takes to infect the audience with their vibe before they play a single note; and, ultimately, there is only one Sammy Rae.

A tenacious trailblazer originally from suburban Connecticut, Sammy Rae grew up participating in local theater groups and taking piano lessons, where she quickly fell in love with performing on stage. Having grown up on a combination of ’80s glam, hard rock, and “whatever was on the family radio,” she found herself gravitating towards the sound of large bands, thus sparking her desire to front her own one day.

After a brief stint of studying Early Childhood Learning at a college in the Bronx, Rae found herself immersed in a music scene unlike any that she’d previously experienced. Completely enamored by the performance opportunities that existed in New York, she made the decision to leave school and pursue music full time.

“It very quickly became apparent that I was in the right place at the right time,” Rae recounted while describing her move to Brooklyn. “[I started] focusing on just seeing as much music as I could, forming the band, getting in the studio and starting my journey that way.” That’s where “The Friends” come into the picture. Following a period of trying out different band members, styles, and instruments, a band was solidified, and Sammy Rae & The Friends was born.

“I always wanted to be the front of a band, I never wanted to do this thing alone,” Rae said in a very matter-of-fact way. This emphasis on the difference between a band and a solo artist continued to be a common theme throughout our conversation and really highlighted the importance of creative collaboration and large ensembles to Sammy Rae.

The release of their first EP, titled “The Good Life,” came with a wave of recognition that allowed Sammy Rae & The Friends to venture into the public eye. Hits such as “Talk It Up” and “Kick It to Me” grabbed the attention of listeners through their unique blend of jazz, rock, and pop, and the band began to tour shortly thereafter. Yet Rae described the first tour as a major learning experience due to the process of translating recorded music into a live performance.

“I’m singing really complicated melodies as hard as I can in the studio because I had no concept of what it would be like to perform them live,” she recalled. “But as time has gone on, we’ve really carved out a space for ourselves as a really powerful live band.”

As they continued to release more music through a number of singles and another EP titled “Let’s Throw a Party” in 2021, the group found their style increasingly difficult to pin down with traditional musical labels. Yet instead of letting this scare them, they embraced the fluidity, giving way to their first full album, “Something for Everybody.” From the upbeat boogies like “Cool-Doug, at Night” and “Good Time Tavern” that are sure to have crowds dancing, to heartfelt, ballad-like songs such as “Coming Home Song” and “David,” the album truly does offer a taste to satisfy every musical palette.

“The way I look at it is, we’re seven musicians from seven different walks of life,” Rae explained, noting that her band is composed of artists from all over the world. With a bassist from Miami, a saxophonist from Alabama, and a keyboardist from Singapore, the group is truly a lovely, eclectic mix of diverse voices and sounds.

“[The album is] a perfect picture of where we are and where we’d like to go,” she added. “It’s definitely a more fine-tuned, cleaned up, and mature sound than we’ve done in the past.”

Looking to join in on the experience of a live Sammy Rae & The Friends show? The band is currently on their album tour - aptly named “The Album Tour,” - and will be taking the stage in Boston for two nights on November 15th and 16th at the Roadrunner. Citing the venue as one of her favorites that she’s ever played due to its incredible sound and exceptional artist accommodations, it’s a concert you won’t want to miss.

As an already well-established group that is surely on its way to stardom, I wrapped up my interview with Sammy by asking her what was next for the band. After a moment of taking in such a question, she responded with great ambition and optimism for the future.

“When I think about our goals and dreams for the future, I think about more records and maybe being recognized in the industry … Hell yeah, let’s go win a Grammy!” Rae said excitedly. “But more than anything, it’s about rooms for us … I couldn’t really imagine a thousand when we were playing five hundred. And now that we’re playing five thousand, I can’t really imagine ten thousand. But I can’t wait to get there.”

Talking It Up with Sammy Rae: How “Something for Everybody” Reflects a Maturing Musical Mindset